The Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Fellowship, a prestigious programme which seeks to produce the north’s next generation of change-makers, is due to reveal its next cohort of Fellows on August 20.
Now in its fourth year, the body aims to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure the next cohort of ministers, CEOs and civic leaders are best placed to lead the Northern Ireland going forward.
Participants on the programme have the unique opportunity to engage with professionals from various sectors – community, business, political, and more – in creating a rich tapestry of expertise and insights.
Here, six leaders in business share their insight with the Irish News on what makes a good leader and offer advice to this year’s Fellows who are taking part in the programme, which has already produced a rich alumnae.
Darragh McCarthy – chief executive at FinTrU
“Throughout my career, entrepreneurship, and the encouragement of it within others has been paramount. To me, leadership is the constant drive for solutions, a belief in a bigger and brighter future.
“A leader should demonstrate this ambition with humility, encouraging others to do the same. It’s about creating a culture of trust and collaboration where everyone feels they have a stake in the success of the team and the organisation.
“Ultimately, leadership is optimism, and optimism inspires others to lead and to become the leaders of tomorrow. By creating a culture of creativity, humility, and optimism, a leader not only drives their own success but also cultivates the next generation of innovators and leaders who will carry the vision forward.”
Stephen McKeown – managing director at Allstate NI
“There is no one way to be a good leader. But I think it always starts with the people and having a strong team around yourself. You must identify the strengths in your leadership team so they can step up when needed.
“It’s also important to have people in your business who are representative of your market, and that leans heavily on diversity.
“It’s about having a vision and articulating that: where are we going, what are we trying to achieve and why is worth doing? You must empower others to think about things in new ways and nurture your high-level talent to contribute to that vision.
“Leadership is about moving beyond the status quo. It is about being on a journey to achieve something better and communicating, guiding and bringing the people you lead on that journey.”
Derek Hynes – managing director at NIE Networks
“Leadership for a better future starts with us individually deciding that we can make a difference and taking a personal risk to put ourselves forward. We need leadership here that listens to our people, hears the desire for a more prosperous future for our children.
“For us in NIE Networks, this means that we always remind ourselves that we come to work to make sure that the families and businesses of Northern Ireland have an electricity network that allows them to choose to move away from fossil fuels for their heating and transport. I hope that we can continue to create a work place for our people that inspires them to do their best every day for the future of Northern Ireland.”
Beverley Copeland – director of organisation development at Ulster Carpets
“Leadership is about connecting people to a common purpose while creating a sustainable future for the next generation. It’s not something that has to be done alone anymore; leadership is a shared responsibility and creating a network that you can rely on and trust.
“I was able to gain incredible insight from people in other sectors during my time on the Fellowship programme, and I definitely brought that experience with me as I transitioned into my new role at Ulster Carpets.”
David Clements – client managing director at Fujitsu NI
“Leadership can mean a lot of different things to different people. When we think of leaders, we can all refer to politicians and football managers who are great leaders, all with various style and approaches. There is no right or wrong answer!
“Personally, when I think of leaders I think of an individual who can set the ‘direction of travel’ for their team and motivate them to go on that journey. This requires a variety of skills including listening, empathy, co-operation and gaining commitment to a common goal.
“The leaders of tomorrow in Northern Ireland need to operate as a team, build consensus, solve complex problems together and work towards a better economy and community for us all.”
Peter Cunningham – chief executive at Camlin Group
“A good leader creates opportunities that enable people to thrive, as seen in the vision for the Camlin Group. We are dedicated to providing jobs and stability, allowing the next generation in Northern Ireland to prosper.
“I invest substantial time and energy into our mission, ensuring the business remains central to our efforts. At Camlin, this commitment is reflected in our customer centric approach and the cultivation of a talented and diverse team of people. We embrace a roundtable leadership style that fosters collaboration and leverages our different skills.
“Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership, and at Camlin it is foundational to all operations. The aspiration for the coming year is ambitious and must be clearly communicated to all stakeholders, to enable us to transition to the next significant phase of the company’s evolution.”
This year’s Fellows will be announced on August 20.
